Compact line locks and methods

Abstract

A line lock includes a body at least partially bounding two passageways that cooperate to receive a locking portion of a line such as a suture in such a manner that the locking portion can only be drawn through the passageways along one direction. A second suture locking portion may also be received by the passageways, or by one of the two passageways in combination with a third passageway. The body may have an elongated, compact shape that is easily implantable in the body.

1 . A system comprising:
 an elongated body comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall extending between the top wall and bottom wall, and a plurality of passageways; and   a line comprising at least one standing portion and at least one looping portion, wherein the line is routed through at least one of the plurality of passageways;   wherein the plurality of passageways comprises at least one passageway extending through the side wall;   wherein the line extends from the at least one passageway extending through the side wall.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one passageway extending through the side wall comprises two passageways extending through the side wall. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the body is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the line further comprises a working portion and a locking portion between the at least one standing portion and the working portion, wherein the at least one looping portion and the at least one standing portion comprise different relative sections of a single strand of the line. 
     
     
         5 . They system of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one looping portion and the at least one standing portion all lie in a plane and run in substantially the same direction as the plane. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the line is routed through the plurality of passageways of the elongated body such that the line is able to be drawn along a pathway along only one direction. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the locking portion comprises a compression section and a compressed section, wherein the compression section presses the compressed section against the elongated body in response to tension in the line. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a line comprising a standing portion and a looping portion; and   an elongated body comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a side wall, and a plurality of passageways;   wherein the plurality of passageways comprise a first primary passageway, a first secondary passageway and a second secondary passageway, wherein the first primary and first secondary passageways extend from the top wall to the bottom wall and the second secondary passageway extends through the side wall.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the body comprises rounded ends and is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of passageways is substantially symmetrical about a central axis. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first primary and first secondary passageways comprise an elongated transverse cross section. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of passageways comprises four substantially bounded passageways. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the line is routed through the plurality of passageways. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the line extends below the bottom wall from at least one of the first primary passageway and the first secondary passageway. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 an elongated body comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a first primary passageway and a first secondary passageway;   wherein the first primary and first secondary passageways extend from the top wall to the bottom wall; and   a line routed through the first primary and first secondary passageways of the elongated body;   wherein the line is routed such that the line comprises at least one looping portion extending below the bottom wall through at least one of the first primary and first secondary passageways; and   wherein the line comprises a standing portion, a locking portion and a working portion, wherein the line is routed such that the locking portion comprises a compression section which compresses a working portion to prevent motion of the working portion.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the elongated body comprises rounded ends and is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first primary and first secondary passageways are substantially symmetrical about a central axis. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the line extends below the bottom wall from the first primary passageway and the first secondary passageway. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of passageways separate from the first primary and first secondary passageways, wherein the line is routed through the plurality of passageways and the first primary and first secondary passageways such that the line slides through the line lock in response to tension on the line in a first direction so that the working portion lengthens and the standing portion shortens, and such that the line passively locks in response to tension on the line in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 an elongated body comprising a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of passageways;   wherein the top surface comprises at least one groove extending between a first primary passageway and a first secondary passageway of the plurality of passageways; and   a line comprising at least one standing portion and at least one looping portion, wherein the line is routed through the plurality of passageways.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one groove extends in a straight path between the first primary passageway and the first secondary passageway. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one groove extends in an arcuate path between the first primary passageway and the first secondary passageway. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the first primary and first secondary passageways extend from the top surface to the bottom surface. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one looping portion and the at least one standing portion each extend below the bottom surface through at least one of the plurality of passageways. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one looping portion and the at least one standing portion comprise different relative sections of a single strand of the line. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of passageways is substantially symmetrical about a central axis.